Former NFL player punched teen in Boca Raton, police say

Scott Mersereau, 51, of Boca Raton, is accused of punching a teen after accusing the teen of egging his house. (Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office)

A former New York Jets player was slapped with a child abuse charge after punching a teen he accused of egging his house, police said.

Police on Saturday arrested Scott Mersereau, 51, of Boca Raton on charges he attacked the accused egg thrower, age 15.

The alleged egging happened Friday at Mersereau’s home in the 1600 block of Southwest Sixth Avenue. The next day, Mersereau walked to the teen’s house down the street and accused the teen of throwing eggs at his house, according to the report.

The teen told Mersereau that he didn’t know who he was and that he didn’t egg his house., the report said.

The denial didn’t sway Mersereau, who started screaming at the teen and threatened to kill the teen, according to the report.

The teen cursed at Mersereau and told him to leave. That caused Mersereau to push the teen and ask to speak with the boy’s mother, according to the report.

The argument continued to escalate with Mersereau grabbing the teen by his shirt, pushing him, and then punching the teen twice in his face and a third time in the back of his head, according to officials.

The teen’s mother ran outside when she saw her son being punched. As that happened, several other people tried to pull Mersereau away from the teen, according to the report.

Mersereau eventually walked away and said he’d need to talk with the teen’s father about the teen’s “vulgar language.”

Police went to the teen’s home, whose address was not released, around 9 p.m. Saturday.

Paramedics took the teen to West Boca Medical Center for a headache and bruise in the back of his head.

Officers found Mersereau and described him as belligerent and intoxicated, police said.

According to the National Football League, Mersereau got 19 sacks in his seven seasons as a New York Jets defensive tackle. A back injury in 1992 forced him to retire.

He currently works as a financial adviser, according to his arrest report.

Mersereau was released from Palm Beach County Jail Sunday after posting $3,000 bond.